Everything Under the Sun - Review

Title: Everything Under the Sun
Author: Rachel West
Series: N/A
Rating: 4/5 stars
Review:
What do you do when you have every choice in the world at your fingertips and no idea what you want? 
Ever since Chris Bennett graduated high school a year ago, he's been trying to figure out what's next. His lifeguarding job has kept him busy, and in southern California, poolside isn't a bad place to be. But he's spent most of his time thinking about Seth, the former classmate who became something more for a few brief moments last summer. Now Seth is back, but he seems to be running toward Chris and running away from him at the same time. Meanwhile, Chris is increasingly drawn to Alex, his gorgeous new neighbor who puts up a sexy, confident front but may be harboring a few romantic demons of his own. 
Chris doesn't know which direction to go, either in life or in love. But by the time he figures it out, will the right person still be around to want him back?

I really enjoyed the plot of this one. I was curious throughout the entire story to see which character Chris would end up with. Normally in a story like this, I have a favorite that I really want him to end up with (and if anyone mentions a certain book with sparkling stalkers, I will shoot them. Multiple times.) but in this I kept flip flopping over whether I wanted him with Alex or Seth.

I liked the characters in this book. Each one felt real and believable to me. Seth, however, seemed to be a bit bi-polar and his constant flip flopping got on my nerves a bit. Also, why is it romance novels have either a fag hag (a girl that the gay guy is best friends with and he tells everything to) or a really swishy gay guy that the guy tells everything to? I probably would've liked the book a lot better without Marty.

There were a couple things that the author didn't explain that I would've liked explained. We have no real sense of any of the character's pasts. We only get a brief glimpse of Alex's relationship with his ex, which really bothered me. The whole situation with his ex bugged him throughout the novel, but near the end, it was kinda just swept under the rug. I also have no idea how Seth and Chris met, or their past relationship. And the brief mention of Chris's father could've been left out since it was never really elaborated on.

*Warning: Spoiler Ahead. If you wish to avoid this, skip down until you see the end tag.*
The big thing that bothered me though, was Seth. We don't really know what happens with him at the end. Does he go back to Maine and never look back? Does he find a guy of his own or does he end up with a woman? Does he stay friends with Chris? Do him and Alex ever get along? So many questions! (Sequel maybe?)

*END SPOILER*

I did like this book over all. It was very well written and kept me wanting to read more. For once, I don't like the cover Dreamspinner Press did for this book. The three boys look poorly photoshopped together. Maybe the regular cover artist was sick that day? Either way, I'd definitely recommend this book. If you like a sweet contemporary romance with a good amount of sex, this book's for you!